Electrical mailbox signal



July 12, 1960 s. T. DUNN 2,945,219

ELECTRICAL MAIL-BOX SIGNAL Filed May 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 A;Sfephen 7. Dunn 76 IN VEN TOR.

9 BY Wm (W Mn July 12, 1960 Filed May 14, 1958 Fig.5

S. T. DUNN ELECTRICAL MAILBOX SIGNAL 3 Sheets-Sheet Fig. 6

I2 CONDUCTOR Stephen 77 Dunn 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent ELECTRICAL MAILBOX SIGNAL Stephen T. Dunn, 3034Balboa St., San Francisco, Calif.

Filed May 14, 19 58, Set. N0. 735,286 8 Claims. (31. 340-281 The presentinvention relates to a mail delivery signal, preferably a suitable lightwhich is adapted to be located in ones kitchen or some other place ofvantage and which is automatically flashed on through the medium of aresidential-type mail-drop or letter-slot which, as will be hereinafterevident, comes into play at the time mail is delivered by the mailmanand which is adapted to function without in any manner delaying orinconveniencing the mailman.

More specifically, the concept has. to do with a construction which isessentially mechanical and which does not in any sense of the wordimpose a needless duty or objectionable activity on the mailman. This isso because when pressing, or forcing magazines and other mail matterthrough the letter-drop-slot it is currently necessary to press theusual spring-returned shutter plate when doing so. Therefore, andinsofar as the mailman is concerned he goes through the usual routineand is unaware of the presence of the invention and the fact that itautomatically comes into play to flip a switch and, in so doing, turnsthe signalling light on. Furthermore and since the person who picks upthe mail on the inside has to set the switch in order to turn the lightoff there is nothing whatsoever about the over-all invention which couldbe objected to by the mailman or the postal authorities, a conditionwhich is usually and not aptly met in most mailbox signalling devicesand inventions currently offered.

It follows that it is an object of the invention to provide a simple,practical and reliable mechanical-electrical invention which lendsitself to practical utilization in conjunction with a simple typeletter-drop-slot and shutter combination; It facilitates handling ofmail by the mailman in the delivery of mail because the slotted plateand operable and closable shutter are made of brass and thereby makesthe mailmans work easier and safer. It speeds the mailmans delivery thusenabling him to be more efficient. It saves time for the occupants ofthe house. That is to say, it will be no longer necessary for the personwho is expecting mail to go to the door time and again since it will beunnecessary to make such trips until the signal light, comes into playto give the signal that the delivery of mail has been effected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adaptation in this lineof endeavor which is such in construction that neither the occupant ofthe house nor the mailman, will have any trouble, that is, under normalcircumstances, because of the addition of the signalling means to theletter-drop-slot whether in a wall or similar surface. In carrying outthe invention the parts adopted for practical association and use aresuch that they are readily available on the open market thus ofiering asaleable and usable invention to members of the public that will appealto and be endorsed by manufacturers by reason of the fact that the parts'may be assembled with requisite expediency and economically.

Considered more particularly and from a structural point of View apreferred embodiment of the invention 'ice is that shown and which ischaracterized, in part, by a conventional toggle-type silent operatingswitch, that is a unit which is self-contained and may be readilyapplied as such, requiring the electrician to merely connect leads tothe contacts in the switch box and to carry the line to the kitchen orsome other room in the house where the incoming mail delivery lightsignal has been or will be installed.

Novelty is also predicated upon the supporting of a toggle switch uniton a simple master panel which panel also carries the other principalparts. That is to say, a yoke is provided and connected with freelyturnable weighted disks, said disks having outstanding lifting andstarting pins which are contacted by abutments or equivalent elements ona pair of push-pull levers embodied in a suitable linkage constructioneffectually connected with the inner side of the flap or shutter carriedby the aforementioned letter-drop-slot.

Other and more specific objects, features and advantages of theinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription and subjoined claims.

In the drawings and wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Fig. l is a view showing a fragmentary portion of a wall, or the likeand looking at the exterior side and observing the face plate, nameplate or tag thereon, and the frame and shutter components of theletter-drop, also aconductor connected with a signal lamp or anequivalent silent visible signal.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view observing the interior side and showing thehandle or extension which is used for re-sett-ing the device and turningofl the light by the occupant of a house.

Fig. 3 is a view based on Fig. 2 and on a larger scale and showing thehousing for the mechanism broken away and appearing in section andtherefore illustrating, primarily in elevation, the various componentsof parts supported on the master panel.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on the lines 4-4 and 55 respectively of Fig.3.

Fig. 6 is a view in section similar to Fig. 5 but showing therelationship of parts when the shutter or cover plate has been pushedinto an open letter dropping position.

Fig. 7 is a detail view which brings out certain features to behereinafter pointed out. 7

Fig. 8 is a detail section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 of Fig. 3.

It is to be understood that the invention will be normally mounted in awall or other stationary support in an apartment house mailroom, forexample. The wall is here denoted generally by the numeral 10. Therecess or opening in the wall in which the invention is mounted foroperation is denoted at 12 and this is suitably and marginally linedwith a frame as at 14. There is an inclined chute or plate 16 built into assist in sliding the letters and other parcels and mail into theinterior of the building. The mail may be allowed to drop on the flooras is most commonly done ora special receptacle may be installed (notshown) for apartment'house use. Referring again to the exterior surface18 of the wall, the face plate or outside panel which is suitablydecorative, say

made of stainless steel or the like, is denoted at 19. It is secured tothe frame members by fasteners 20. Also fastened on the face plate, inany suitable way, is a name plate 21.

The letter-drop-slot means comprises a common brass or equivalent frame22 with a slot 23 normally covered by the interiorly disposed downwardlyand outwardly swinging door or shutter 2.4.

Referring now to the interior construction, attention is first invitedto a plate which can perhaps be best referred to as a master panel 26because all of the essential-com- 3 pqaen s r me hani a parts embled anm un d thereon. Of first significance is the switch means denotedgenerally by the numeral 23. It is to be pointed out that this; part isafregu-l'ar. switch box 'with a cover plate anda toggie switch such asis' now on the market.- There are, many types available but the oneshown in the draw: ings-is typical and acceptable. The finger-lever(so'metimes called a button) which is normally used to throw the switchoff and on isdenoted at 30. in the instant situation an extension triplever 32 is provided and this has a socket which fits over the mainlever so that the same may be conveniently operated. It is desired thatthis switch be closed when the mail carrier or mailman pushes mailthrough the slot and opens the, door or shutter 24. This is accomplishedin-the present arrange: merit-by a switch lever or trip actuating deviceor actuator. A principal part of the actuating device is con venientlyreferred to as a yoke. In any event it comprises a yoke forming plate 34which bridges the forward side of theswitch and which has an opening 36therein through and beyond which the lever tripping extension 32extends. The end portions of this plate (forming the hight portion ofthe yoke) are fastened removably at 38 to L-clips 40 which clips in turnare fastened by bolts or otherwise to a pair of spaced paralleloscillating disks 42 (Fig. 4). These disks are provided on theirvertical outer sides with'outstanding actuating studs or pins 44. Thepins 44 are engaged and forcibly tripped by cooperating trip lugs 46(Fig. 7) mounted on the shutter oper ated pushepull levers each denotedgenerally by the numeral 48. Onelever (alternatively, linkage means) islocated on the right (Fig. 3) of the toggle switch 28 and the other.lever or linkage means is located at the left thereof. Each leverembodies a pair of cooperating upper and lower links 58 and 50respectively. The lower ends of the lower links 50 are bracketed orotherwise connected at 52 to the lower end portion of the shutter 24which is hinged in place at 54 as illustrated. The upper ends of thelinks 50 are extended into axial sockets 56 provided therefor and thelower ends of the upper vertical links 58. A setscrew 60 serves topermit the two links 50 and 58 to be adjusted for exactness of operationWhenever such' adjustments are regarded as necessary during theinstallation or whenever repairs are to be made. In any event, each pairof links 50 and 58 provides a push-pull arm or lever which is under thecontrol of the shutter or door 24. With further reference to thislinkage construction the numeral 60 (Fig. 3) designates a cross-bracewith which forks 62 (Figs. and 6) on the turnbuckles 64 are connected.The right hand ends, of the turnbuekles of Fig. 5 are bracketed at 66 onthe upper portion of the master panel. This pivotal association of theturnbuckles with the panel 26 and push-pull levers permits the levers orlinkage means, as an entity, to function in conjunction with the shutterin an almost obvious manner. More specifically and assumingthat theshutter is closed, as seen in Fig. 5, when I the mail carrier passesmail through the slot to drop it into the chute 16 the links 50 at thebottom are pushed up to the elevated position seen in Fig. 6. This inturn pushes up on the vertical links 58 and they in turn lift the crossrod or brace 60 and also the upwardly swinging hingedly mountedturnbuckles 64. Each link 58 is provided with the aforementioned triplug and the trip lug comes and engages the outstanding pin'44 on one ofthe two spaced parallel disks and causes. the disks, which are rotatablymounted, to rotate from the down (Fig. 5) to the up position Fig. 6. Thefact that the yoke means is carried. by the disks and the bight-bar 34in the yoke is now brought into play it will be evident that theo'peration results in tripping the lever 32 automatically. To assist inmaking the parts operate with ease and with a minimum of pressureagainst the shutter 24 it will be obvious that counterweights areprovided on the disks 42. However, and before describing same it is tobe pointed 4 out that the disks are pivoted for rotation at 68 betweenarms 7 0 on brackets 72 which are fastened at 74 on the master panel 26.In addition each disk is provided with bar-like or block-likecounterweights '76 which are disposed on opposite sides of the disks anddo not collide, of course, with the arms '70. These are counterweightsand it will be obvious that when once an impetus is given to the disksand the weights come into play, the weights swing the disks overautomatically from left to right considering Figs. 5 and 6 respectively.It follows that these weighted disks virtually operate the yoke meansautomatically. The yoke in turn operates the extension 32 andconsequently the toggle switch 30. Once the switch is turned on, it willbe'necessary, of course, for the attendant to return it to its normal orset position. This means that all that is necessary to do is to pushdown on the extension lever 32 which trips the yoke and. returns theweighted disks totheir intended normal or ready-to-operate positions.

Attention is also directed to the rubberbumpers denoted by the numerals75 and which are arranged above and below the arms '79 so that when theyoccupy the positions seen they function as buffers or bumpers. They alsosilence the operation of the parts.- In Fig. l the; lower bumpers areshown engaging the lower edges of the arms 70. in the other positionseen in Fig 6 the upper bumpers are engaging the upper edges of the arms70.

With reference to Fig. 3 the aforementioned brackets 52 are more in thenature of posts which are spaced apart and fastened suitably to the endportions of-the shutter, These posts also support a cross rod 80,aspacing sleeve 82 and the rod provides foroperating connection of thehinging bearings 84 on the ends that is the lower ends of the links 50.Thus, the linkage. means is so constructed that the component partsoperate with desired case. 7

It is understood that as the door or shutter 24 is pushed in the linkagedevices or levers 48 operate in the manner shown in these two figures.The trip lugs 46 engaging the outstanding lifting pins 44 serve to bringabout the desired result. The links 58 are provided as seen in Fig. 7with spring catches 36 which as seen in Fig. 5 exert a downward push onthe pins 44 to regulate the cooperation of the parts and so that thesecatches will not interfere with the movement of the levers 48 from theposition seen in Fig. 5 to that seen in Fig. 6 there is a springdepresserstud 88 provided eccentrically on each disk.

If desired and such is generally the case a housing or casing for themechanism will be provided and this is denoted generally by the numeral90 and is of suitable construction to fit over the parts and is suitablyattached and supported on the master panel, The cover 92 of the casingas seen in Fig. 5 is remo'vably bolted in place at 94. Slots areprovided at 96 to permit passage therethrough of the extension lever 32.

in practice suitable hanger brackets are provided and the upper andlowerbrackets are of U-shaped form as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and thesebrackets are denoted generally by the numerals 98. The bight portion 100of the bracket is riveted or fastened otherwise as at 102. Auxiliary andcooperating support brackets 104 are pro vided to support the masterpanel. In other words the brackets 98 support the brackets 104 and thebrackets 104 in turn support the insertable and removable master panelon which all of the main parts are assembled and mounted. This makes iteasy to assemble, repair and adjust the various components which go tomake up the over-all construction.

It will be obvious that in order to operate all that is necessary is topush, with a light pressure, an envelope or a post card against theopenable and closable shutter. This will have theeffect of operating theswitch which turns on the light, said light being intended, of

tension 32. It becomes locked after the yoke has been pushed down by theuser. This, of course, has the effect of turning the light off.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a stationary wall having a mail delivery opening, apanel accommodating and mounting support secured in and lining themarginal walls of said opening, an exterior panel mounted on saidsupport and spanning and covering said opening, said panel beingprovided with an opening, a frame superimposed on and secured to saidpanel, said frame having a mail slot and being provided with a hingedlymounted pressure opened shutter for opening and closing the slot, avisual remote controlled signal, a second panel supported on theinterior of said first panel, a self-contained toggle-type switchmounted on an accessible interior side of said second panel, meansproviding an operating connection between the signal and switch, and anoperating connection between the shutter and switch, said switch havingan oil and on trip lever, a yoke Pivotally supported from said secondpanel, said yoke being operatively connected with said trip lever fortripping the lever to otf and on positions, and adjustable push-pulllever means embodying operatively joined links operatively connectedwith the shutter and yoke respectively, whereby to automaticallytransmit motion imparted to the shutter, by way of the links, to saidyoke and, alternatively, to transmit motion from the yoke to theshutter, when the yoke is manually and intentionally operated.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and said yoke having an openingtherein, an extension carried by said lever and extending through saidopening.

3. In a construction of the class described, a relatively stationarysupport having a recess, an outer cover panel fixedly mounted on saidsupport and provided with an opening having a mail slot frame and ahingedly mounted cooperating shutter normally closing the slot in saidframe, an inner panel supported from said outer panel, a toggle-typeswitch supported from said inner panel, and an operating mechanicalconnection between the shutter and toggle switch, said operatingconnection embodying a yoke provided with an aperture to accommodate theusual trip lever embodied in said switch, said lever being provided withan extension extending through and beyond said aperture for use by theuser in resetting the yoke and switch, and linkage means including anadjustable lever one end hingedly connected with the shutter and theother end hingedly supported from the inner panel, and an intermediateportion provided with a trip lug, said yoke having at least one weighteddisk provided thereon and said disk having an outstanding trip pin withwhich said trip lug is alternately and releasably cooperable.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 and wherein said lever embodies anupper link, a turnbuckle connection between said upper link and innerpanel, and a lower link, said lower link being oblique angled relativeto said panels and having an upper end adjustably connected with thelower end of the upper link, and having a lower end hingedly bracketedto said shutter.

5. For use in conjunction with a mail chute access opening in a wallprovided for delivery of mail, mail delivery signalling means comprisingan exterior panel adapted to be fixedly mounted on an exterior surfaceof the wall in registry with said opening, said panel having an opening,a mail-slot frame mounted on said panel and having a slot aligned andcooperating with said opening, a hingedly mounted closing shutterhingedly mounted on the inner side of said panel and cooperable with theslot in said frame, at least one U-shaped hanger bracket having a bightportion fastened on an interior side of the exterior panel, an innermaster panel parallel to and spaced from said exterior panel andsupported by said hanger bracket, a switch box mounted on said masterpanel and containing a toggle type switch and including a trippableoperating lever provided with an extension to facilitate the operationof said operating lever, a pivotally mounted yoke, a pair of spacedparallel disks, said yoke bridging the space between and beingoperatively connected with said disks, brackets mounting said disks forrotation on said master panel, said disk being provided withcounterweights and further provided with bumpers cooperable with thebrackets, linkage means having opcrating connection with said shutterand including links having trip lugs cooperable with trip pins mountedon and extending outwardly from said disks.

6. In a construction of the class described, a master panel, a switchbox operatively mounted on said panel and embodying a toggle switch,said switch having an operating lever, a remote signal light, anoperating connection between the signal light and the switch box,brackets supported on said panel, a pair of spaced parallel disksmounted for rotation on said brackets, said disks being provided withcounterweights and further provided with outstanding operating pins, ayoke attached to and bridging the space between said disks and having anopening through and beyond which an end portion of said lever extends,and operating means for said disks embodying a pair of push-pull levers,each lever having links, said links being adjustably connected together,there being upper and lower links and said lower links being adapted tobe hingedly connected with an interior side of a closing shutter, and anadjustable and hinging connection between the upper links and upperportion of said master panel.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 and wherein said disks are providedon outwardly disposed sides with outwardly projecting trip pins, saidupper links being provided with trip lugs movable in the path ofoperation of the trip pins and releasably engageable with the trip pinsin a manner to impart movement to said disks and consequently to theyoke which bridges the space between and is operatively connected to therespective disks.

8. The structure defined in claim 6 and wherein said disks are providedon outwardly disposed sides with outwardly projecting trip pins, andsaid upper links being provided with trip lugs movable in the path ofoperation of the trip pins and releasably engageable with the trip pinsin a manner to impart movement to said disks and consequently to theyoke which bridges the space between and is operatively connected to therespective disks, and, in combination, a housing attached to and carriedby said panel and encasing and protectively enclosing the switch box,brackets, disks, yoke and push-pull levers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS295,581 Pace et a1. Mar. 25, 1884 469,181 Pinkham Feb. 16, 1892 630,203Elrod Aug. 1, 1899

